New York Launches Blockchain-Based COVID-19 Passport: Report

New York launches blockchain-based COVID-19 passport and will be available for free of use by businesses and implementation will be voluntary so let’s find out about it in our latest blockchain news today.

New York governor Andrew Cuomo announced that New York launches a blockcahin-based Excelsior Pass, which is a COVID-19 passport for use across the state, starting from April 2. He stated:

“New Yorkers have proven they can follow public health guidance to beat back COVID, and the innovative Excelsior Pass is another tool in our new toolbox to fight the virus while allowing more sectors of the economy to reopen safely and keeping personal information secure.”

Today we launched Excelsior Pass, a free platform for businesses & individuals that can be used to easily access secure proof of a recent negative COVID test or vaccination.

It's a first of its kind tool to help NY fight COVID while reopening our economy safely.

Learn More:

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 26, 2021

The governments worldwide are mulling over the idea of these passports which is proof that a person is vaccinated or tested negative for Covid. However, the privacy risks and concerns about its usability and practicality as a paper document are often seen as downsides. According to Cuomo however, the Excelsior Pass will be the answer to many of the concerns as it is built on the IBM blockchain-based digital health pass platform which means that no one keeps data on health records:

 “Secure technologies, like blockchain and encryption, are woven throughout Excelsior Pass to help protect the data, making it verifiable and trusted. No private health data is stored or tracked within the apps.”

New York’s governor’s office said that the pass will be quite similar to a mobile airline boarding pass that can confirm the person’s negative COVID test or proof of vaccination. The General Manager of IBM Public and Federal Market Steve LaFleche said that this move will allow people of New York to share the status of their health voluntarily:

“Each participant will determine what information they want to share, with whom, when and for what purpose – without sharing the underlying personal data used to generate the credential.”

With more than 1/4 of its residents vaccinated, NY State announces the availability of its digital health pass designed in partnership with IBM. Learn more about the first-of-its-kind Excelsior Pass: https://t.co/iYgKqrYoFw by Steve LaFleche, GM, IBM Public and Federal Market pic.twitter.com/Tj3AnQXvkq

— IBM News (@IBMNews) March 26, 2021

New York will become the first state to introduce these passports but IBM’s LaFleche predicted that the open standards of blockchain technology will allow other states to join in as well and will allow for a faster re-opening of the economy nationwide. The passport is fully subsidized by the New York state and provides a voluntary process. The venues that will adopt the blockchain include Times Union Center and Madison Square Garden.